Taarabt, 23, recently revealed that QPR manager Harry Redknapp had requested he misses the tournament, which begins on January 19 and ends on February 10.

The midfielder, who scored a brace to earn QPR their first win of the season at the weekend, outlined his reluctance to snub his nation and he has now reiterated his desire to earn a call-up from Morocco boss Rachid Taoussi.

"I will do everything I can to prove to him that I deserve to be there," Taarabt told the African football blog on lequipe.fr.

Asked about Redknapp's request, Taarabt said: "He came to see me to ask me not to go but I told him, 'If they call me, I can't refuse, boss. I love my country, I love the Moroccan people and football means a lot to them'.

"I warned him that the only solution was that the coach doesn't call me up."

He added: "The coach isn't obliged to take me. I hope to be at the African Nations Cup but even if I'm not there, and that would be painful, I will be the biggest Morocco supporter."